Economist Poll: Trump Beats Rubio, Cruz, Carson in Matchups

A new Economist/YouGov pollfinds Republican front-runner Donald Trump leading rivals Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Ben Carson by double digits in hypothetical head-to-head primary match-ups.

The New York billionaire would defeat Rubio and Cruz by the same margin of 57 percent to 43 percent, and would defeat Carson by a margin of 60 to 40 percent, according to the poll. 

The finding is a blow to the hopes of some Republican elites who argue that Trump's stubborn lead in the race will dissipate once the field winnows and a more mainstream alternative rises.